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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Positive Messages

As with all Pokemon games, there are mixed messages. The game is about fighting, but it's also about making friends.

Positive Role Models & Representations

There are no trainers here, just the Pokemon creatures (or toy versions of them, really). The main characters are a mean, bragging Pokemon who wants to be the next Battle Royale champion, and you, who everybody else hopes will beat the braggart. You're the nice guy, the one other competitors respect because you have honor.

Ease of Play

The control scheme is very intuitive and easy to use. The difficulty ramps up as you move along, but does so at a nice smooth pace.

Violence

The Pokemon battle each other with various types of attacks -- fire blasts, water squirts, electric jolts, vine whips, etc. As opposed to many other Pokemon games, you actually see the melee-type attacks hitting the opponents in this one (though it's still all very cartoony). Defeated creatures either disappear or turn into a collectible toy for you to pick up (and you will then have that creature on your team).

Sex

Language

Consumerism

The Pokemon universe is vast and wide. This game is a tie-in to a multitude of other games, cartoons, comics, and toys.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Pokemon Rumble Blast is a less complex, more streamlined Pokemon experience. Newcomers to the series can easily jump in here with no prior knowledge of the games or characters. However, the fighting here is a bit more straightforward than in classic Pokemon games -- here the attacks are directly shown, as opposed to being represented symbolically. Still, the violence is very unrealistic and cartoony. As with all games for its 3DS system, Nintendo recommends that children under age 7 do not play the game in 3D because the effects can damage developing eyes. Parents have an option to turn off the 3D effects by using the Parental Controls found on the 3DS.

What's it about?

The characters of POKEMON RUMBLE BLAST are wind-up toy monsters that like to compete in arena battle royales. All the Poke creatures are tired of one braggart and his friends winning all the championships, so they urge and cheer you on to face him and become the new champ. Before you can do that, you'll need to venture around different environments, fighting wild Pokemon and winning over many of them as teammates.

Is it any good?

Other Pokemon games have made a splash with engaging storytelling and deep strategic gameplay. In Pokemon Rumble Blast, both the plot and the strategy are greatly simplified, but it doesn't really diminish the enjoyment factor. This is a faster, more furious gaming experience then you'd usually associate with the series, but frankly, it's a nice change of pace. If anything was bringing down the Pokemon series, it was the sameness that occurred from one installment to the next. Rumble Blast bursts onto the scene with an invigorating jolt and feels really fresh. It's also a great way for newbies to ease their way into the world of Pokemon.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the violence in the game. Pokemon is a game centered around fighting, but the fighting is considered a sport within this game. Does this make the violence more palatable? What about the cartoon-like nature of the graphics? Does that make a difference?

The story here has a strong message about sportsmanship. Which characters in the game exhibit good and bad sportsmanship?

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